Astronomy Open Night: robots, magic, 3D Mars experiences
The popular annual Macquarie University Astronomy Open Night returns with robots, magic, 3D Mars experiences, talks and astrophotography.
Northern District Times
Don't miss out on the headlines from Northern District Times. Followed categories will be added to My News.
In a few years astronomers will have access to a new generation of extremely large telescopes that will reveal the mysterious earliest periods of the universe when galaxies first formed, search for markers of life on planets around other stars and uncover the seeds of supermassive black holes.
Extremely powerful new telescopes being built will answer a “multitude of questions about how the universe works”, according to Macquarie University research fellow Dr Richard McDermid.
Dr McDermid, from the university’s Department of Physics and Astronomy, said the new technology would allow researchers to look back in time by studying very distant objects because of the time it took for light to travel the enormous distances involved.
“It lets us see things that are fainter … and more sharply than we’ve ever seen before,” he said.
The telescopes, which are expected to be completed around 2025, will allow astronomers to learn more about a “mysterious period of the universe” known as the Dark Ages, which occurred after the Big Bang and before the first well-formed galaxies were seen.
Dr McDermid will discuss these new technologies and the discoveries they hope to uncover in the keynote speech at the annual Macquarie University Astronomy Open Night next weekend.
The Astronomy Open Night, which has run for more than 25 years, will also include a 3D Mars experience in virtual reality, a physics magic show, a children’s activity space and an exhibition of astrophotography.
Visitors can wander through the Planetarium simulating the night sky, drive a robot, search for celestial objects through one of the many telescopes, visit stalls at the expo hall, enjoy food and drinks under the stars, and listen to a range of talks.
The opportunity to work in such a fascinating field — and during such an exciting era of discoveries and technologies — is not lost on Dr McDermid.
“It’s just a real privilege to be able to work on this and try to share some of that excitement with the public,” he said.
The Astronomy Open Night will be held from 6.30pm until 10pm on Saturday, September 7 at Macquarie University on Balaclava Rd at North Ryde.
Tickets cost $19.50 to $26.50 and must be pre-purchased online.
IN OTHER NEWS
